Hiding the Truth

Jessica stared at the stitches that ran across her upper left arm. There were twelve of them, sealing the gash William's knife had left when he swung at her with the steel blade. She ran her fingers over the stitches and flinched slightly.

"You shouldn't touch it if it hurts." Jessica looked in the mirror at Greg standing in the doorway. He slowly walked over to her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. Jessica looked at his upper right arm, where ten stitches ran across his pale skin. Jessica couldn't help but smile. Greg smiled back at her.

"What are you smirking about, preggo?" he quietly asked her.

"It's like a best friend bracelet," Jessica smiled, "But more permanent."

Greg chuckled and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He buried his nose into her hair and smiled.

"Do you still wish you were Ryan?" Jessica quietly asked him.

Greg slowly nodded his head and kissed the crown of her head. "Yes, because you are the most amazing, beautiful, smartest, most talent woman I have ever met. Why couldn't you have studied in Vegas?"

"I was going to go to Yale," Jessica said, "But something pulled me towards Miami." Her hand ran across her large abdomen and she smiled when she felt her son kick against her palm.

Sara looked at the DNA results, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Are you sure this is right?" she asked the DNA tech.

"Absolutely, I ran it twice like I always do and then a third just to be sure."

Sara looked at him and nodded her head. "Thank you."

Sara walked over to a computer and began searching. She was shocked at what she found. She read pages upon pages of information. The more she read the more she couldn't believe what was before her. Sara grabbed the phone and made a quick call. She grabbed the DNA result print outs and left.

Sara walked through the halls towards the layout room, where she knew she would find everyone else. She couldn't believe what the print out said, she needed someone to tell her what was going on. Sara was suddenly furious, this explained everything- the nickname, the alluding to vital details, her lack of willingness to talk. She was fuming by the time she walked into the lab.

Catherine was shaking her head at Holly. "Six months pregnant and still going out in the field. Holly what is wrong with you?" Catherine chuckled, "You are something else."
"Just like her father," Ray joked.

Holly rolled her eyes. "I bet the old man loves hearing that."

"I'm sure he'll be thrilled to know his little girl is playing out in the field still and getting stabbed while she's carrying his grandchild. I can see him now." Ray laughed.

"But Holly are you sure he actually cut you?" Sara asked, barging into the lab.

Holly looked at her, her blue eyes filled with confusion. "What are you talking about Sara? You watched him cut my arm yourself."
"Well I'm just confused because of the DNA results I just got back," Sara explained. "You see we got some interesting results."
Catherine, Ray, Greg, Nick, and Holly all stared at her.

"Well are you going to tell us?" Catherine asked.

"Oh I will, trust me." Sara said, "There were three things that caught my attention. The first thing that stuck out was there was a 98.7% match to an Elizabeth Johnson from the sample that we believe came from Holly." Sara placed the first print out on the light table, a curly haired, blue eyed teenage girl looking up at them. "Elizabeth was born in Chicago, incarcerated at the Illinois Women's Facility at the age of fourteen for possessing illegal narcotics, more specifically heroin, and she died there in a prison fight."

"But how could a dead teenager's blood be at our crime scene?" Catherine asked, "Especially if she was from Chicago."

"That's what I wondered, too. But I looked into Elizabeth's record and discovered that she was adopted by a Chicago officer by the name of Horatio Caine, the same Horatio Caine that's the Lieutenant at the Miami Dade Crime Lab. Elizabeth's last name was changed to Caine and she received a blood transfusion and kidney transplant from Horatio Caine, which is why there was also a 1.3% match to Horatio Caine." Sara placed the second print out on the table.

"Sara, what are you getting at?" Catherine asked.

"Well you see none of the samples came back to a Holly Smith." Sara continued, "In fact I did some research and I couldn't find a Holly Elizabeth Smith in CODIS and when I checked officer registration there isn't a Holly Smith anywhere. It's almost as if Holly doesn't exist."

"Sara, what is your point?" Catherine asked, "You said you found three things. What's the third?"

Sara looked from her to Greg, to Holly. She could see them becoming nervous, especially Holly.

"The third DNA result the computer shot out was for a missing Miami woman." Sara said, "She disappeared from her downtown condo and is still believed to be dead. There was a memorial service and everything. Her case has gone cold but she was never officially pronounced dead. Her father is still searching for her and he's requested that if anyone has information about her where abouts that they notify the Miami Dade Police Department."

"Ok, are you saying that we found evidence of the missing Miami woman in our crime lab?" Nick asked.

"Um, well in a way," Sara said.

"Ok Sara," Nick said, "You've lost me. Did we find the missing woman or not?"

"Well maybe Holly could explain it better," Sara said snidely, giving Holly a dirty look.

Holly shifted uncomfortably on her stool. She was staring out the window of the lab, blinking back what looked like tears.

"Holly?" Catherine said, "Holly, what's going on?"

"Yes Holly, what's going on? Or should I say Dr. Caine!" Sara snapped, slamming the last print out on the table. There it sat, Holly's face staring back at them, the name Jessica Elizabeth Stone Caine printed across the top, a 98.7% DNA match to the sample from Holly. The words 'Missing Person of Interest' in bright red across the top.

The room was silent, no one dared to speak. Catherine reached out and grabbed the print out. She held it up and looked at the picture and then at Holly. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Holly was paler that the woman in the picture and her hair was a little darker. But it was those eyes, those ocean blue eyes that confirmed everything Sara had just told her. Catherine picked up the print out with Horatio Caine's picture on it. There they were again, ocean blue, identical to Holly's.

"You're Horatio's daughter, aren't you?" Catherine asked. Holly hesitated but nodded her head. "You're the missing Miami woman?" Holly nodded her head again. "Your name is Jessica Caine, isn't it?" The tears finally fell as Holly nodded her head one last time.

Catherine couldn't believe it. She had spoken to Horatio on the phone about his missing daughter several times in the last few months. He thought she might have gone to Vegas because he knew she had contacts there. Catherine had sadly informed him Jessica wasn't there. She had promised if she showed up she would call Horatio, but she had no clue what his daughter looked like. Those eyes, that's where Catherine had seen Holly's eyes before, on Horatio's face when she met him all those years ago.

"I need to make a call," Catherine said, reaching for her phone.

"No need to," Sara said, "I already called Lieutenant Caine and left him a voice mail, seeing as its four in the morning in Florida. I told him Jessica's here and we'll be holding her until he calls."
Jessica's eyes grew huge and she began to visibly shake. Greg walked over and began massaging her shoulders, trying to soothe her.

"Jessica," Greg said to her, "Why did you do it?"

"Do what?" Jessica asked, wiping her eyes.

"Why did you run away?" Greg asked, "You told me Horatio knew where you were. You never said you were missing."

Catherine's eyes grew wide with shock. "Greg, you knew?! You knew we had a missing woman in our lab and you didn't tell me?"

"I'm not really missing. Horatio knows I'm alive. I don't know why there's a missing persons report for me, or why it says to notify Horatio," Jessica sniffed.

"Maybe because he wanted to know where his baby was?" Ray proposed with a lift of his brow.

Catherine groaned and rubbed her temples. "Please don't tell me Ray that you knew who she was."
"Guilty," Ray said with a shrug.

Jessica looked around the room. Everyone seemed to be avoiding her gaze except Ray. Jessica looked at Nick. The older man was clearly pained and something was bothering him.

"Nick?" Jessica hesitantly asked. Nick looked at her. He was angry, Jessica could see it. "Nicky please," Jessica said, reaching her hand towards him. Nick pulled away from her.

"You lied to me." He said, "You told me Horatio knew you were here, that everything was ok."
Jessica shook her head. "Nick, I never-"

"You never what?" Nick asked, anger filling his voice. "You never told him you would be here? Did you lie to him, too? What about Ryan? Are you really serious about him, or is he another lie? Did you just use him so you would have an excuse to get away from me?!"

"Nick, please listen to me," Jessica pleaded, standing from her stool.

"Why? So you can tell me more lies?" Nick shook his head. Jessica could see the tears forming in his eyes. "Jessica, I don't know what's real now. I feel like everything you've told me is a lie!"

Nick reached over and grabbed the first print out. "Who's Elizabeth? Is she another lie, too?"

"No, Elizabeth's dead," Jessica said.

"Then who is she?" Nick asked, "And don't lie to me this time."

"Elizabeth is who I used to be." Jessica said, "Elizabeth was a Crip King when she lived in Chicago. She had to die so I could be born. I became Jessica when I went into the witness protection program. I had to get away from the Crip Kings."
"You were in a gang?!" Nick sounded applauded. "You were in a gang and you didn't think this was an important thing to mention?!"

Jessica was pissed. "Well I didn't think you needed to know, that's not who I am anymore!"

"But why didn't you tell me?!"

"Nick, we're not married!" Jessica exclaimed, "I don't need to tell you every little thing about my past."

"Yeah," Nick said, taking a step back, "Because I wouldn't marry someone who lies." He turned and walked out of the lab.

Jessica felt her heart sink and tears start running down her face. She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her and turned into Greg's chest. "Come on Jess," Greg said, pulling her out of the lab.

"Greg!" Catherine snapped, "You can't take her!"

"Relax Cath, we're not leaving the building." Greg said annoyed, "I just think Jelly needs some space right now."

Greg led her to an empty interview room. He sat down in one of the chairs and pulled another one up so he was sitting in front of her. Greg held her hands and waited. Jessica cried for what seemed like forever to her. She didn't know why she was so upset. She finally calmed down enough she was able to look at Greg again without bursting into tears.

She looked at him. "You don't hate me for lying?"

Greg shook his head. "You had your reasons, I understand."

"Why did he get so upset?"

Greg sighed and squeezed her hand. "Because Nick sometimes lets himself get too emotionally involved. I think he really fell in love with you and learning everything like that in a rush he feels like it wasn't real."
"But I don't love him! I told him that!"

"Yes, but even if someone doesn't love you back it can still hurt when you learn they've been keeping secrets from you," Greg explained, running his free hand across the back of Jessica's. "It was a one sided love affair and Nick feels like you've betrayed him."
"What should I do?"

"Talk to him, don't leave like this. Let him calm down and then talk to him about everything. Nick can be pretty thick headed at times, believe me." Greg looked at Jessica and smiled. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "Jessica Caine, what would life be like without you?"

Jessica chuckled and kissed his neck. "Ryan asks me the same question all the time."

Jessica sat on the hard, cold bench in the holding cell. She couldn't believe that Catherine was holding her like some kind of criminal. She heard the heavy door open. Jessica looked up and her heart grew heavy at the sight of Nick standing outside the bars.

"Nick," Jessica whispered as she stood and walked over to him. "Nicky, please let me explain."

"You don't need to," Nick whispered, his voice cracking, "Greg already told me."

"Are you mad at me?" Jessica's tiny voice sounded.

Nick looked at her with pain filled eyes and slowly shook his head. "I'm disappointed, Jess. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was scared."

"But you know you can trust me," Nick quietly said. "Why didn't you tell me you were hiding from someone?"

"I don't know, Nicky," Jessica whispered as tears began to roll down her face.

Nick reached his arms through the bars and carefully embraced her. "I forgive you," he whispered.

Jessica groaned and rubbed her lower back. The pain was almost unbearable. She didn't know why she was having such terrible pains. Jessica feared that she might be experiencing labor pains far too early. Jessica waddled from one side of the cell to the other. She knew it was stress that was causing the pain. She needed to do something before she gave birth to her son right there in the holding cell. She knew there was only one thing she could do.

"Excuse me," she called out to the young uniform, "I need to use the restroom!"

"Sorry, Catherine's orders are you are not to leave the cell until Lieutenant Caine gets here," the young female officer said in response.

"Excuse me, but I'm almost seven months pregnant, I need to use the restroom!" Jessica retorted, "If you don't let me go I'm going to piss right here."

The young officer's face flushed and she quickly unlocked the door. "Hands behind your back," she quietly ordered. Jessica folded her hands behind her back. Just as the young officer touched her wrists, Jessica shot her arm back and hit her hard in the stomach. She spun and grabbed the base of her neck and squeezed. The uniform's eyes rolled into the back of her head and Jessica caught her just as she collapsed. She quickly handcuffed her hands around one of the bars and locked the cell behind her.

Jessica grabbed her stuff from her locker. She hustled through the crime lab, trying to get out before someone saw her. As she passed the AV lab, an idea struck her. Jessica looked in and quickly found Archie. She walked over to him, digging through her purse.

"Archie, I need you to do me a favor," Jessica said.

"Sure Holly, what's up?" Archie inquired.

"I need you to go to Greg's apartment with me and take all the baby stuff and put it in a storage unit," Jessica explained. "I don't have time to explain right now, but I promise I'll call you and fill you in later."

"Ok," Archie said confused as he followed Jessica down the hall, "Any particular reason?"

"I'll explain later," Jessica said again. "I need you to promise me though you won't tell Greg it was you."

"Did you and Greg get in some kind of fight or something?" Archie continued to question.

"Archie, I'll give you five hundred dollars and pay the unit's rental cost if you'll shut up and stop asking questions," Jessica retorted.

Archie shrugged his shoulders as they walked through the parking lot. "Alright, works for me."

Jessica looked at Archie's truck in her rearview mirror as he followed her out of the parking lot. She watched as Catherine's car drove towards the lab. Jessica pulled her LVPD CSI baseball cap on and slipped a pair of Greg's sunglasses on the bridge of her nose. She looked at Catherine's car as it passed her. He was sitting in the backseat, looking directly at her without even knowing who she was. Jessica's heart hurt as she continued on with her drive.

"I'm sorry, Ryan," she whispered as tears pooled in her eyes.

The grass was green and the sun shined brightly as Jessica walked across the field. She stopped when she reached her destination. She dropped to her knees, clutching the boutique of sunflowers in her arms. She looked at the marble with their names engraved on it. She gingerly set the flowers on the ground in front of the headstone as tears poured down her cheeks. Jessica laid on her stomach and laced her fingers into the grass, pretending she was holding him again.

"Please Jesse," she whispered, "You've come to me every other time. I need you now. Please Jesse."

Had to give it a bittersweet ending.